Stage appliance



Oct 26, 1937. c. R. POWELL STAGE APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 10, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

62 275 Ez/czz.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 26, 1937. c. R. POWELL STAGE APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 10, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 2 CZyz: 7?. Fa /44.

. INVENTO BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

My invention relates to a stage appliance and particuiarly to anapparatus for use by entertainers in producing so-called magic tricks.

In that art of amusement and entertainment 5 wherein tricks areperformed with the aid of certain appliances and by the skill of theentertainer to produce mystifying results and illusions a great many ofthe tricks so performed depend upon the pulling of a thread at theproper moment for the successful completion and operation of the trickor illusion. Inasmuch as these tricks are generally performed on a stagewhich is prepared for the occasion by draperies and other effectsdesigned to prevent the observers or audience from seeing the thread,the operation of such tricks calling for the use of a thread has beenfairly satisfactory. Particularly is this true where the entertainer hasan assistant on the stage with him and who, unobserved by the audience,can pull the thread at the proper moment.

In cases, however, where the stage setting cannot be prepared fully, orwhere no stage is provided for the entertainer, such as at impromptugatherings and parties, and where it is diflicult to conceal the thread,and also in cases where the entertainer is without assistance onthe'stage and must perform all the operations of his tricks himself, itis difiicult to manipulate the thread pulling without detection.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a robot or apparatusfor automatically pulling the thread without any action or effort on thepart of the entertainer beyond providing sound vibrations by means ofwhich the thread pulling device is released.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a thread pulling meansreleasable by sound vi- J ;brations in combination with novel effectsand illusions operable thereby and conjointly therewith. I

A still further object of my invention lies in the provision of anappliance for creating the illusion of an article being shot from a gunon a target, the operation of the device being dependent upon the soundvibrations resulting Other objects and advantages will be apparent asthe description proceeds, reference now being to the figures of theaccompanying drawac ruing a part of this application, and

wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail rear view of a portion of the illusion producingdevice.

Figure 3 is a detail rear view of such device illustrating anindependent sound operated releasing means therefor.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one form of my robot thread pullingdevice, shown in cooperation with one type of trick or illusion deviceto which it is applicable.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of my robot threadpulling device.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of the releasing means of the robotshown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of the setting device for my robot,illustrating in full and in dotted lines two positions thereof.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view similar to Figure '7, illustrating athird position. of the setting means.

Ihe reference character I refers to a shallow box or housing withinwhich the mechanism comprising my robot thread pulling device isdisposed. This casing l is provided with a removable cover 2 having alongitudinal and centrally disposed slot'or' opening 3 therein. Fastenedto the cover 2 is'an inverted substantially U-shaped supporting bracket4 over the top of which may be" looped ribbons or supporting bands 5adapted to support a small pane of glass 6 or the like. The" purpose ofthese elements will be apparent as the description proceeds.

Disposed within the casing I and beneath the cover 2; (see Figure 4), ispivotally mounted, as at I, an armature bar 8 extending substantiallyacross the casing l adjacent one end thereof. This armature bar isdisposed intermediate its length between the legs of an invertedU-shaped bracket Qsuit'ably secured to the bottom of the casing andwhich serves to limit the pivotal movement of the armature bar. one endsecured to the adjacent end of the easing and the opposite end to thefree end of the armature bar to normally urge the same in a directiontoward the adjacent end of the casing.

Suitably mounted on the bottom of the casing l adjacent the free end ofthe armature bar 8 is an electromagnet II, the current for which issupplied from a suitable source such as the dry cell batteries l2secured in holders l3 in the casing; When the circuit between thebatteries A coil spring III has and the magnet H is closed the magnet isenergized, and, if the armature arm 8 is moved into engagement with themagnet during such energization, against the tension of the spring I0,

the magnetic energy of the magnet is sufficient to retain the armaturebar in such position (as shown in Figure 4) against the tension of thespring it and the armature will remain in such position until thecircuit is broken whereupon the.

spring it! will instantly pull the armature bar 8 away from the magnet.The armature ,bar 8 is provided substantially centrally with an openingit adapted to receive the free end of a rod I5 mounted upon a pivotedbracket I6 pivoted on a pintle ll around which is disposed a heavy coilspring 93 adapted to urge, with great force, the rod iii to the dottedline position shown in Figure 4, that is, away from the armature bar 8.A strip of padding material I9 is provided on. the bottom of the casingl against which the rod I5 may strike it is forcibly thrown intoengagement therewith under the action of the heavy coil spring 58. Withthe rod I5 pivoted to the position shown in full lines in Figure 4, tobring its free end into alignment with the opening I4 in the armaturebar 8, and with such armature bar moved into engagement with and held insuch position by the magnet HI, the armature bar serves as a latchdevice for the rod I5. Upon breaking the circuit to the magnet II, thearmature bar is pulled away by the spring I0, thus releasing the rod tofly back to its normal position against the pad 59. The opening 3 in thecover 2 is aligned with this rod 55 and permits such movement.

The means for making and breaking the electric circuit to the'magnet Iiis the same as is used in the various forms and modifications of theinvention shown herein and is illustrated in detail in Figures 3 and 6.This means comprises essentially a light pivoted contact member 26,pivoted as at 28 to one end of the casing I and having its free end lihtly engageable against a diaphragm element 22 suitably secured acrossan opening 23 formed in the end of the casing. Both the fixed diaphragmelement 22 and the pivoted contact member it are included in the circuitbetween the batteries l2 and the magnet II. Normally the contact member26 rests lightly against the diaphragm 22 to complete the circuit. Thispivoted contact member 28 is so light, however, that it is sensitive andresponsive to sound vibrations such as, for instance, those caused bythe detonation of a blank cartridge in a gun or the like, causing thecontact member 29 to vibrate and with such vibration to disengage thediaphragm contact member 22 for an instant thereby breaking the circuitbetween the batteries I2 and the magnet li, and permitting the springII] to pull the armature bar 8 away from the magnet to release the barl5- as previously explained. The opening 23 through the casing wallfacilitates the sound waves reaching the contact member 20.

The armature bar 8 is also included in the circuit of the magnetandbatteries so that as long as the armature bar is out of engagement withthe magnet, even though the contact maker and breaker elements 2i9 22are engaged, no current will be drawn from the batteries I2. This isshown clearly in Figure 4.

Attached to the free end of the rod I5 is a thread which may be disposedin any suitable manner to pass through and out of the casing I eitherthrough an opening in the wall thereof or between the wall and the cover2, and which may be guided and led in desired direction and for anydesired distance to the apparatus or trick illusion device which it isdesired to operate by the pulling of the thread 2 Such devices are manyand varied in number and character and as illustrative only I have shownin Figure 4 one form of such device in order to illustrate the operationof my rooot thread pulling device.

The opposite end of the thread is secured as at 25 to a wire releasingmember 2% substantially U-shaped and having the legs 2? adapted, in theillustration shown, to pass through suitabie openings in the cover 28 ofa glass jar 2Q disposed in full view of the audience. Overlying therelease member 25 in the cover 22 may be any desired articles such as agreat number of folded colored papers or spring flowers, flags,handkerchiefs, or other articles compressed to the desired small spacewithin the cover 28 and which, when the releasing member 25 is pulledout of holding position, are released to drop into the glass jar 29 insight of the audience. Thus with the apparatus set as shown in Figure 4,upon the shooting of a blank cartridge in a gun, or otherwise providinga detonation or sound waves, the contact member 2% vibrates and breaksthe circuit to the magnet H whereupon the spring lfil pulls the armaturebar 8 away from the magnet, releasing the rod 55, which under theinfluence of theheavy coil spring iii, files over and against the padis, this movement being so fast as not to be visible to theaudiencelooking at the device. During such rapid movement of the rod 25, thethread 24 is pulled, thus pulling the latch device 2%? from the cover 28of the jar 29 and releasing the articles trapped therein for movementinto the jar 29 to produce the illusion of the operator having shot thearticles into the glass jar with the gun.

With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be observed that ifthe pane of glass 6 is suspended on the ribbons 5 in the path of the rodI5, as it flies over from the latching position to the pad I9, the glasspane will be broken by the rod during such movement. If the glass is notprovided in this position, the rod simply flies over freely.

The use of this device with the glass pane 6 is usually in combinationwith another illusion or trick effect device in the form of a targetwhich the entertainer shoots at with the gun through the glass 6. Thistarget device comprises a casing 39, the front wall M of which is markedoff as at 32 after the appearance of a target, the concentric circles ofthe target being clearly visible to the audience. This casing isdisposed in alignment with the glass pane 6 and with the end of thecasing i in the ordinary performance of this trick.

The center circle 33 of the target is a separate piece from the frontwall 3i but is skillfully fitted and so painted with respect to theouter concentric circles of the target that the fact that it is. aseparate panel is not detectable by the audience. This center panel 33is provided on the rear surface of the front wall 3! with verticallydisposed pintles 34 by means of which the panel is pivoted for rotationabout a vertical axis. Surrounding the pintles i are heavy coil springs35 tending to normally urge the panel 33 in one direction. The panel 33is provided at one point on its edge with a projection 36 adapted to beengaged by a pivoted latch it? normally urged in a direction to engage,the projection 3%: whereby to hold the panel 33 in one position againstthe tension of the springsv 35, by means ofthe coil spring 38. Obviouslywhen this latch 31 is moved to releasing position, the panel 33 underthe influence of the heavy springs 35 will rotate instantly and at aspeed faster than the eyes. of the audience can detect, to reverse thesides of the panel and present the rear side thereof to the front as theinner concentric circle of the target. In this movement the projection36 engages. against the rear side of the front wall 3|. and serves as astop to prevent further movement of the panel.

Both sides of the panel 33 are provided with a hook 39, the hook on therear side being adapted to receive a watch 40: or other article whichmay be used in adding to. the amusement and entertainment of theillusion.

As an illustration of the operation of this invention, the latch 31- mayhave secured thereto one end of the thread 24 connected at its oppositeend to the free end of the rod 15.

In the operation of this trick, the entertainer may lead up to theoperation of the illusion in many ways such as for instance by borrowinga watch from someone in the audience. Once he has the watch in his hand,he immediately palms it and substitutes for it a cheap imitation watchwhich he then breaks up into pieces and packs into the end of a gun.Previously hehas attached to the hook 39 on the rear side of the panel33 another watch. He then aims the gun at the target through the pane ofglass 6 and fires a blank cartridge in the gun. The detonation of thecartridge operates the contact maker and breaker to break the circuit tothe magnet II as before explained, whereupon the rod 15 flies over toits normal position breaking the glass 6 as it does so andsimultaneously pulling the thread 24 which operates the latch 31 torelease the panel 33 which simultaneously reverses its positiontooquickly for the eye to seeand there appears as if by magic the watchhanging on the hook 39. This effect is particularly natural inasmuch asthe rapid swinging movement of the panel 33 causes the watch 46 which ishanging on the back of. the panel to swing outwardly during suchmovement so that as it appears on the front of the target, it isswinging back to its normal position against the panel, giving theillusion of having been shot there and is just settling into place onthe hook 39. To complete the trick, the entertainer thereupon removesthe watch from the hook, immediately palms it, and returns the ownersown, watch to him.

This target trick may also .be operated entirely independently of thethread pulling mechanism and as an independent illusion in itself. byproviding a release for the panel 33 operable by the detonation of thegun directly. This form is shown in Figure 3 and wherein an armature bar4| is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 42, one end being engageablewith the projection 36 on the panel 33 and the opposite end beingengageable with a magnet 43, the current for which is supplied bybatteries 44 and. in the circuit of which is the same sound vibrationoperated contact maker and breaker 20 previously described.

Obviously in the operation of the target trick independently of thethread pulling device, the firing of the gun serves to break the circuitto the magnet 43 by vibrating the contact member 29 and permitting thecoil spring 45 to move the armature bar 4| out of latching engagementwith the projection 36 whereupon the panel 33 is permitted to reverseits position as before explained.

In Figures 5 and,6 ,I., have shown a modified form or the robot threadpulling device and wherein there. is provided adjacent the armature bar8 a bracket 46 upon whichis pivotally mounted a latch 41 provided withtwo hook portions 48 and 49. A fixed pin 50 on the bracket 46 limits thepivotal movement. of the latch 41 in both directions.

The hook portion 49 of the latch is adapted to engage in the opening I4of the armature bar 8, when such bar is in engagement with or directlyadjacent to the magnet I I. The other hook portion 48 of the latch 41 isadapted to loosely receive a small eyelet or ring 5| secured to the freeend of an elastic 52 such as a rubber band or coil spring any otherelastic device which is adapted to resume its contracted position afterexpansion. The opposite end of the elastic 52 is suitably secured to theopposite end wall of the casing i. When the elastic 52 is secured to thelatch 4'! as shown in full lines in Figure 6, such elastic is stretchedand under tension. The ring or eyelet 5 i' also has secured thereto oneend of a thread 53, the opposite end of which may be attached to anydesired device which it is desired to pull in in order to produce atrick or illusion, such as the latch 31 of the target device or thelatch 26 of the transparent jar trick or to lift a card from a deck orany of many other tricks known in the art.

With the armature bar 8 in engagement with the magnet H and held insuchposition by the energ r of the magnet, and with the elastic 52secured to the latch 41 by means of the ring 5! engaging the hook 48,and with the hook portion 49 engaged in the opening M in the armaturebar 8, the latch 41 is prevented from rotating to release the elastic52. Obviously however, upon breaking the circuit of the magnet H andthus releasing the armature bar 8 to move away from the same under theinfluence of the coil spring it, the latch member 41 rotates about itspivot to the dotted line position of Figure 6, whereupon the link 5i andelastic 52 are released and instantly contract to the normal positionshown in dotted lines in Figure 6, resulting in gi ing an instantaneouspull on the thread 53.

It will be understood that an entertainer in preparing for a program oftricks and illusionprepares his apparatus in advance of the performanceand in the use of the thread pulling robot herein described, of eitherthe form shown in Figure 4 or that shown in Figure 5, it is, of course,desirable that the rod i5 be previously engaged in latched engagementwith the arms. ture bar 8 or the latch 4! engaged in latched positionwith the armature bar 8 so as to avoid hooking these members togetherduring the performance. At the same time it is undesirable to: leave thearmature bar 8 in engagement with the magnet H during any appreciablelength of time leading up to the use of this particular apparatus in theperformance.

I have therefore devised a setting device by means of which the latchescan be previously disosed in latching position and will remain in suchosition until the apparatus is ready to use, without engaging thearmature bar 8 with the magnet until it is time to use the device,whereupon the armature bar can be quickly and inconspicuously engagedwith the magnet and the setting device positioned to permit the free andinstant release of the armature bar and latches upon the performance ofthe trick.

This setting means isshown in Figures 4, 5, and .8, .andcomprises .a.rotatable pin 54 extending through the side of the casing l and providedon its outer side with a fingerpiece 55' whereby it may be readilyturned. This fingerpiece is small and inconspicuous and may be readilyconcealed from the sight of the audience.

The inner end of the pin 54 carries a cam disk 55 eccentrically mountedas at 5'! on the inner end of the pin 54. The disk 56 is provided with afiat edge portion 58.

The normal position of this setting device is shown in full lines inFigure '7 with the eccentric disk 56 turned to permit the spring Ill topull the armature bar 8 the full limit of its distance away from themagnet l l, as determined by the stop bracket 9. In this position theend of the rod l5 will not engage in the opening i l of the armature barnor will the hook portion 49 of the latch member ll engage in suchopening.

If, however, the disk 55 is rotated to the position shown in dottedlines in Figure 7, it will be noted that it moves the armature bar 8into engagement with the magnet H. At this point the disk can bereturned to the full line position of Figure 7 in which position therelease of the armature bar will cause the release of the rod E5 or thelatch ll, or the disk 56 may be turned further in the same direction tobring the flat edge 53 thereof flat against the side of the armature bar8, as shown clearly in Figure 8. In this position the circuit may bebroken by either moving the armature bar 8 away from the magnet manuallyor by jarring the contact member so to creek the circuit and permit thespring E8 to pull the armature bar back against the flat side of thedisk 55. The disposition of the disk is such that in this position,shown in Figure 8, the movement of the armature bar against the flatside of the disk is not sufiicient to release the rod l5 nor the latchs? from the'bar. This is the safety position and in which position theapparatus may be left for any length of time until ready to use with thelatches engaged but without drawing current from the battery :2. Whenthe operator is ready to use the robot to pull a thread or operate atrick illusion, he simply turns the disk 56 back to the position shownin full lines in Figure '7 from the position shown in Figure 8, duringwhich movement the disk forces the armature bar into engagement with themagnet, re-establishing the current which will hold the bar in suchengagement, and moves the disk far enough away from the armature bar topermit the unlatching of the rod 15 and the latch 41 upon breaking thecircuit through means of the contact member 20 previously described.

It is believed that from the foregoing description and explanation, theoperation of my inven tion will be clear. It will be understood, ofcourse, that many changes may be made in details of construction andarrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention. I do not limit myself therefore, to the exact form hereinshown and described other than by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a stage illusion device operable by pulling athread, a member adapted to be placed under'tension, a thread connectingsaid member and said device, means for latching said member in tensionedposition, and means operable by sound vibrations for releasing saidlatching means whereby said tensioned means resumes its normal positionand in so doing pulls said thread.

2. A thread pulling device for stage illusions and the like comprising amember movable from normal position to a position under tension, latchmeans for holding said member in tensioned position, means responsive tosound vibrations for releasing said latch to permit said member toreturn to normal position, and a thread secured to said member.

'3. A thread pulling device for stage illusions and the like comprisinga member movable from normal position to a position under tension, latchmeans for holding said member in tensioned position, said latch meansincluding an electromagnet, means responsive to sound vibrations forbreaking the circuit to said magnet and releasing said latch means topermit said member to return to normal position, and a thread secured tosaid member.

4. A thread pulling device for stage illusions and the like comprising amember movable from normal position to a position under tension, latchmeans for holding said member in tensioned position, said latch meansincluding an electromagnet, means responsive to sound vibrations forbreaking the circuit to said magnet and releasing said latch means topermit said member to return to normal position, and a thread secured tosaid member, said sound responsive means including a light vibratilecontact member in the electric circuit of said electromagnet.

5. A thread pulling device for stage illusions and the like comprising acasing, a pivoted member in said casing adapted to be moved from normalposition to a position under tension, a latch for holding said member intensioned position, a cover for said casing, said cover having a slottherein through which said member swings to and from its normal andtensioned positions, means responsive to sound vibrations for releasingsaid latch, and a thread secured to said member.

6. A thread pulling device for stage illusions and the like comprising acasing, a pivoted member in said casing adapted to be moved from normalposition to a position under tension, a latch for holding said member intensioned position, a cover for said casing, said cover having a slottherein through which said member swings to and from its normal andtensioned positions, means responsive to sound vibrations for releasingsaid latch, a thread secured to said member, and breakable means on saidcover in alignment with said slot whereby said member will strike andbreak the same in its movement from tensioned position to normalposition.

7. A stage illusion device comprising a target having a pivoted centerpanel reversible with respect to the front surface of said target, asupporting hook on each face of said panel, tension means for normallyurging said panel to a position with one face coincident with the frontsurface of said target, means for latching said panel under tension withits opposite face coincident with the front surface of said target, andmeans controlled by sound Waves for. releasing said latching meanswhereby said panel reverses its position. a

8. A stage illusion device comprising a target having a pivoted centerpanel reversible with respect to the front surface of said target, asupporting hook on each face of said panel, tension means for normallyurging said panel to a position with one face coincident with the frontsurface of said target, means for latching said panel under tension withits opposite face coincident with the front surface of said target, andmeans controlled by sound waves for releasing said latching meanswhereby said panel reverses its position, said latching means andreleasing means being mounted upon the rear surface of said target.

9. A thread pulling device for stage illusions and the like comprising amember movable from normal position to a position under tension, latchmeans for holding said member in tensioned position, said latch meanscomprising an electromagnet and a pivoted armature adjacent thereto,said armature being adapted when in engagement with said magnet tocomplete the circuit to said magnet and be held thereby, said armaturealso being engageable by said member to latch the latter when engagingsaid magnet, and means responsive to sound vibrations for breaking thecircuit to said magnet to permit said armature to move away from saidmagnet and release said member.

19. A thread pulling device for stage illusions and the like comprisinga member movable from normal position to a position under tension, latchmeans for holding said member in tensioned position, said latch meanscomprising an electromagnet and a pivoted armature adjacent thereto,said armature being adapted when in engagement with said magnet tocomplete the circuit to said magnet and be held thereby, said armaturealso being engageable by said member to latch the latter when engagingsaid magnet, means responsive to sound vibrations for breaking thecircuit to said magnet to permit said armature to move away from saidmagnet and release said member, and a spring normally urging saidarmature away from said magnet.

11. A thread pulling device for stage illusions and the like comprisinga member movable from normal position to a position under tension, latchmeans for holding said member in tensioned position, said latch meanscomprising an electromagnet and a pivoted armature adjacent thereto,said armature being adapted when in engagement with said magnet tocomplete the circuit to said magnet and be held thereby, said armaturealso being engageable by said member to latch the latter when engagingsaid magnet, means responsive to sound w'brations for breaking thecircuit to said magnet to permit said armature to move away from saidmagnet and release said member, a spring normally urging said armatureaway from said magnet, and a setting means for said device comprising arotatable cam engageable with said armature to move the same intoengagement with said magnet.

12. A thread pulling device for stage illusions and the like comprisinga member movable from normal position to a position under tension, latchmeans for holding said member in tensioned position, said latch meanscomprising an electromagnet and a pivoted armature adjacent thereto,said armature being adapted when in engagement with said magnet tocomplete the circuit to said magnet and be held thereby, said armaturealso being engageable by said member to latch the latter when engagingsaid magnet, means responsive to sound vibrations for breaking thecircuit to said magnet to permit said armature to move away from saidmagnet and release said member, a spring normally urging said armatureaway from said magnet, a setting means for said device comprising arotatable cam engageable with said armature to move the same intoengagement with said magnet, and said cam having means operable in oneposition thereof to permit disengagement of said armature from saidmagnet a limited amount but retaining it in a position to preventunlatching said member.

CLYDE R. POWELL.

